title: Effect of basal metabolic rate on the bone mineral density in middle to old age women in Taiwan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Basal metabolic rate (BMR) reflects a combination of cardiopulmonary function and lean body mass resulting from regular physical activity. Though many studies have examined the relationships between bone mineral density (BMD) and body composition, little is known regarding the relationship between BMD and BMR.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between BMR, anthropometric parameters, body composition and BMD in postmenopausal women in Taiwan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred and eighty-nine women between the ages of 40 and 80 years were included in this cross-sectional study. The following parameters were assessed: height, body weight, total body fat (TBF), BMR, waist-to-hip ratio, grip strength, and back strength. Differences in all variables between osteoporotic and non-osteoporotic women (categorized according to decades in age) were calculated using a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and a Bonferroni post-hoc test. Multiple linear regression with a backward stepwise approach was performed to evaluate the relationship between these measurements and BMD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among women over 50 years of age, those who were non-osteoporotic had higher BMR, BMI, and body fat by comparison to their osteoporotic counterparts (p<0.05 for all). Multiple linear regression revealed that BMR and body fat significantly predicted BMD of the femoral neck (adjusted beta coefficients of 0.304 and 0.190, respectively; p<0.05 for both). BMR and body fat also predicted an increased vertebral BMD (adjusted beta coefficients of 0.310 and 0.141, respectively; p<0.05 for both).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  BMR is closely associated with BMD in elderly persons, and may be a novel target for interventions aimed at preventing the age-related decline in BMD.
authors.affiliation: Sports Medicine Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Chia Yi, Chia Yi, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Wei-Hsiu
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Chun-Hao
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Zin-Rong
authors.initials: ZR
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Robert Wen-Wei
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Hsu
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001481:Basal Metabolism; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015519:Bone Density; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000378:metabolism*; D012016:Reference Values; D013131:Spine / Q000378:metabolism; D013624:Taiwan
keywords: Basal Metabolic Rate; Body composition; Osteoporosis